Physics students have calculated that the superhero’s method of using his cape to glide from tall buildings — as seen in Christopher Nolan’s Batman Begins — would result in him hitting the ground at life-threateningly high speeds.

In the film, the caped crusader — played by Christian Bale — wears a cape which becomes rigid when a current is passed through it, allowing him to glide over Gotham City in a similar manner to a base jumper in a wingsuit.

Four MPhys students from the University of Leicester have published a paper claiming that although this method of gliding would be possible, Batman would be likely to suffer a fatal collision when he reached the ground.

Due to the high speeds he would be travelling, his impact with the ground would be equivalent to him being struck by a car travelling at 50 miles per hour.

The group concluded that DC Comics’ superhero should consider taking a parachute with him if he wanted to stay in one piece.

Source: Science Daily

So the cape in the movie would allow him to glide but would have an awful brake mechanism, due to the short span of his wings/cape.